David could not be present at the burial of Samuel, but he mourned for him as deeply and tenderly as a faithful son could mourn for a devoted father. He knew that Samuel's death had broken another bond of restraint from the actions of Saul, and he felt less secure than when the prophet lived. While the attention of Saul was engaged in mourning for the death of Samuel, David took the opportunity to seek a place of greater security; so he fled to the wilderness of Paran. It was here that he composed the one hundred and twentieth and twenty-first psalms. In these desolate wilds, realizing that the prophet was dead, and the king was his enemy, he sang: "My help cometh from the Lord, Which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: He that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, He that keepeth Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep. . . . The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: He shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore." Psalm 121:2-8.

David kunne ikke overvære Samuels begravelse, men han sørgede lige så dybt og oprigtigt over ham, som han ville have sørget over en kær fader. Han vidste, at Saul ville få endnu friere tøjler efter Samuels død, og følte sig ikke så sikker, som da profeten levede. Mens Saul var optaget af at sørge over Samuel, benyttede David anledningen til at søge sig et tryggere tilflugtsted og drog til Parans ørken. Det var her, at han skrev den 120. og den 121. salme. Mens han opholdt sig i denne ødemark og tænkte på profetens død og kongens fjendskab, sang han: